Hyderabad: The city is home to two lakh pet dogs according to the TS nativity survey. Most owners allow the pet dogs to defecate in the open during their morning and evening walks, which is a cause for concern and nuisance to other road users, especially pedestrians. Unlike in the West, the owners don’t carry poop bags to clean up after their pets. Dog waste could lead to serious health concerns, mainly leptospirosis.
Mr Karan Bajpai, a resident of Habsiguda, said, “This practice of open defecation of dogs not only makes the roads and other infrastructure filt-hy but poses a serious hygiene, sanitation challenge to the local people, especially during the monsoon season.” “Apart from health pro-blems, it also degrades the quality of life in the metropolitan city. Walk-ing no longer remains a pleasurable activity the-se days due to this nuisance,” Mr Bajpai said.
“Dog faeces contain millions of bacteria, many of which are harmful to human beings. Dog owners should start cultivating the habit of carrying disposable bags with them to carry their pets’ faeces back home for disposal, as done in countries like the USA.” He said a law similar to the Litter Pollution Act in Ireland, Pooper Scoo-per Law in New York, should be enacted with certain changes to prevent the practice of owners allowing their pets to dirty the surroundings.
But in a city that is home to a large number of stray dogs, would the problem be resolved with poop bags for pets? “No”, said Dr Praveen Kumar, a veterinary doctor. “Even if the practice of carrying poop bags is made mandatory, it would not make a difference as the city is home to over 5 lakh stray animals. Besides city has no clear guidelines on penalising dog owners who allow their pets to defecate in public places.”
